ML20134B684
| ML20134B684 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/22/1995 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Lee K KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (SOUTH KOREA) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20134B619 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-96-493 NUDOCS 9511290176 | |
| Download: ML20134B684 (2) | |
Text
= ?~C
+ 'o UNITED STATES O g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
- e WASHINGTON, D. C 20555
%,..... November 22, 1995 CHAIRMAN '
Dr. Kyo-Sun Lee Executive Vice Chairman Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc.
21 Yeoeuido-dong Yeoungdaungpo-ku Seoul, Republic of Korea
Dear Dr. Lee:
Thank you for your prompt response to my letter of October 27. I am pleased to accept your invitation to address ROK nuclear experts and international participants in the lith KAIF/KNS Annual Conference during the special breakfast meeting to be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 1996.
The subject of my 30-minute presentation will be "The Direction and Future Prospects of Nuclear Regulatory Policy in the United States of America," as you have suggested.
Although planning for my visit is still very preliminary, I will probably not arrive in Seoul until lat'e Thursday evening, April 11, so I will be unable to attend the invited speakers' dinner at 8:00 that evening. I would have enjoyed the opportunity for a frank exchange of views with the senior Korean nuclear and other international community members attending. I will advise you immediately if a scheduling change closer to the event should allow me to participate after all.
I look forward to receiving the detailed program of the conference as well as any other information you think might prove useful. I wish you continued success in all of the planning and preparations for the conference.
Sincerely, Shirley Ann Jackson f t 3 '
- c " -
h
, p b,
~
/ UNITED STATES
. p %g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20566 4001 g
\ *****
p November 29, 1995 CHARMAN Dr. Frantiiek Pazdera Director General Nuclear Research Institute Re2 plc 250 68 Re2 Czech Republic
Dear Dr. Pazdera:
On October 1,1995, you wrote to me requesting the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's assistance in connection with preparations for a March 1996 IAEA mission to the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant. After carefully evaluating your proposal in light of recent budget cutbacks, I have concluded that the NRC is not in a position to allocate sufficient resources to play a significant role in addressing the unresolved safety issues that are the focus of the IAEA mission. In addition, the NRC staff contacted the Czech regulatory authority SUJB, which requested that we not commit to this effort any AID funds allocated for the Temelin 1 scensing review training project in which SUJB and NRI personnel are involved Moreover, NRC is currently working with the Czech regulators on the transfe; methodology for licensing the plant in accordance with Czech and NRC liceasing methods. For that reason, an extensive NRC participation in this effort could be misconstrued by some as a potential conflict of interest.
In light of these circumstances, I want to follow up on my original general offer of assistance by proposing two limited assistance options: (1) NRC would be prepared to receive one or two NRI staff for one or two days of discussions with NRC staff on our ar;; roach and methodology to closing out unresolved safety issues; ot (t) the NRC could arrange for the nuclear industry to provide you with a list of qualified US consultants who are familiar with our approach to this subject, and who are also familiar with VVER reactor technology and the Temelin project, to help you define and scope out the work.
In either case, NRC unfortunately is not in a position to assume the expenses.
Please let me know if either one of these options would be of use to you in preparing for the IAEA visit. Our staff could then follow up and work with you on arranging the details.
With best personal regards, l &
=s q
f f 0 !'A1 ) )f )
- . .? i ,
8 % UNITED STATES I ~
'e NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 2006H001
- November 30, 1995 '
CHAIRMAN Mr. James Covey Minister U.S. Embassy - Berlin Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5 10117 Berlin Germany
Dear Mr. Covey:
As you will recall, during my recent visit to Berlin, I invited BMU Minister Angela Merkel to visit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Yucca Mountain high-level waste site in Nevada. At the time, you suggested that you would be willing to help coordinate the arrangements if I chose to pursue the invitation on a more formal basis. I subsequently sent to Minister Merkel the enclosed letter reminding her of the invitation to visit the U.S. I have also ;
spoken with Secretary of Energy Hazel O' Leary, who expressed an interest in meeting Minister Merkel and offered to facilitate a visit to Yucca Mountain.
I believe it would be most helpful to us if you could contact Minister Merkel, expressing my and Secretary 0' Leary's interest in having her visit, and encourage her to schedule this at an early date.
I appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely, Shirley Ann Jackson
Enclosure:
Ltr to AMerkel fm SJackson dtd 11/9/95 2p. f
s.
f < l'. : t f"'4 UNITED STATES
' 8 o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION p,, ,E WASHINGTON, D.C. 20E56 O,
- $,C
' ' + ,****
November 9. 1995 CHAIAMAN Dr. Angela Merkel Minister Federal Ministry for Environment. Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Kennedy Allee 5 53175 Bonn Germany
Dear Dr. Merkel:
It was a pleasure to meet with you and other senior members of the BMU The formal ;
staff during my first visit to Germany as Chairman of the NRC.
extension of our long standing bilateral cooperative Arrangement was certainly l
a highlight of my trip. In addition to noting our valuable and insightful discussion. I wish to express my sincerest thanks for the breakfast and Finally. I would like to repeat my meeting arrangements at the GRS office. \
invitation to you to visit NRC at your earliest opportunity, and would be pleased to discuss the timing of your visit at your convenience.
Sincerely.
~ '
g
~
a tw , Q,@@
j
.? - NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION !
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-4001 g
December 7, 1995 l
%, f
..... l cHAmus l
The Honorable Hazel R. O' Leary Secretary of Energy Washington, D.C. 20585
Dear Secretary O' Leary:
I At our working breakfast on November 21, 1995, I indicated that I would l
prepare a final text of the talking points I used during our substantive discussions. Accordingly, I am enclosing a set of topical talking points l derived from our discussions for your information. Please let me know if you have any questions about these topics or if you wish to provide details on possible resolutions of the subjects raised.
I thought the working breakfast went well, and I appreciate your willingness to participate. I look forward to our next meeting, which I understand has
] been scheduled in March 1996. ,
i Sincerely, 1
Enclosure:
As stated ;
a i
'n Wl 3 lIMi f}{}f- l
b -
LQh
- i i
I. NEW INITIATIVES AW CHALLENGES: NRC PROPOSALS l
$ A. International Reactor Research Proaram on Aaina and Risk Assessment f 1
) . At NRC's 23rd Annual Water Reactor Safety Meeting, and during my keynote j
address at the American Nuclear Society 1995 Winter Meeting in San j
Francisco, I noted that a number of the important research areas e
associated with aging possess elements common to reactors in all of the i countries relying on nuclear power.
s j . I propose that we consider an international reactor research program focused on aging and risk assessment methodologies in which we seek to integrate the regulatory research activities of various countries within
^
the context of a formal, structured, international research program.
1 Each country could specialize in areas of its particular expertise.
l
. This approach would provide a more directed and focused research program l
j than generally exists internationally.
$ B. International Nuclear Reaulators' Forum
. I believe the world's nuclear regulators might learn from the experience of INP0 and WANO, and consider establishing a better mechanism for coordinating their own efforts.
. This could provide a more regular forum for the exchange of relevant information and views on topics of mutual interest.
. I am not suggesting a bureaucratic organization with a secretariat and headquarters. We do not need a multilateral nuclear regulatory organization. Nuclear safety must remain the responsibility of the nations in which the technology is utilized.
. However, a more formal organization of nuclear regulators on the international level might identify common themes and approaches and provide greater support for safety.
II. NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY l
. NRC believes NEA is an effective forum for the most advanced nuclear l' States to discuss and plan coordinated actions to address significant technical issues. The NEA members represent 85% of the world's installed nuclear capacity.
. Constrained resources in the U.S. and abroad make it increasingly i important to cooperate internationally, including joint or coordinated NRC research projects with the advanced nuclear countries of the NEA.
has learned that such cooperation can be a cost effective means of resolving nuclear safety issues.
.. We support and encourage efforts to reduce duplication between the NEA and the IAEA in order to continue U.S. participation in both agencies.
1 2
. We appreciate the efforts undertaken by DOE to address the NEA funding crisis, and we will continue to work to counter the view that the U.S.
should drop out of the NEA as a cost-saving measure. 1 l
. Our preferred approach to reducing the cost of participation in the NEA, which I believe is shared by DOE, is to encourage the NEA to examine fundamental operational and staffina assumptions which could lead to substantial resource savings.
III. ARMENIA
. Armenia has restarted Medzamor Unit 2, and the plant is nearing full power operation.
. The USG revised somewhat its position regarding safety assistance to Armenia. The US'i view now appears to be that each donor nation should j
determine independently and on a bilateral basis the extent of assistance it is willing to provide to Armenia.
. NRC has decided to continue its FY96 regulatory assistance activities ,
l with the Armenian regulatory authority at a level of effort ($100K- '
$200K) somewhat above what was expended in FY95.
. Congress recently earmarked $85 million in the FY96 Freedom Support Act for Armenia. Although not specifically earmarked for nuclear safety activities, it is possible that these funds could be utilized for near-term risk reduction and operational safety improvements at Medzamor.
. Given that funds are now available, does DOE anticipate suggesting another revision of USG policy towards Armenia to allow for the provision of near-term risk reduction and operational safety improvements at Medzamor?
IV. UKRAINE A. OBSERVATIONS FROM CHAIRMAN JACKSON'S VISIT TO UKRAINE
- 1. Parliamentary Activities / Nuclear Leaislation
. During my visit to Ukraine I met with Michail Pavlovsky, Chairman of the Committee for Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety, Supreme Council of We discussed the U.S. Government's (USG) legislative Ukraine (Rada).
branch oversight responsibilities for the nuclear program, a role which the Rada is now developing vis-a-vis the Ukrainian nuclear program.
. As a result of their interest I offered to investigate the possibility that an appropriate U.S. agency might invite members of the Rada to visit the U.S. Congress to exchange views on the legislative process, as well as discuss with NRC how it interacts with the regulatory process.
3
. The NRC has contacted the U.S. Information Agency to propose a visit of members of the Rada to the U.S. in early 1996.
- 2. Radiation Detection Assistance
. While the town of Slavutich displays signs of prosperity, the conditions at Chornobyl are deteriorating. Among other things, the plant workers are not equipped with any dosimetry.
. Could DOE investigate the possibility of an information exchange on current standards and practices in radiation protection for Chornoby17 B. G-7 ISSUES
- 1. G-7/ Ukraine Neactiations on Chornobyl Closure
. I understand that G-7 efforts to negotiate an MOU with Ukraine on Chornobyl closure continues, but has not yet come to fruition on closure of the facility by the year 2000.
. Without a commitment to the 2000 date, it could be difficult to maintain leverage on the Ukraine government to move for ard, as well as to convince international financial institutions to commit resources to Ukraine for activities related to Chornobyl safety.
. What are your views on the status of the U-7/ Ukraine negotiations?
- 2. International Nuclear Safety and Environmental Center (INS &EC)
. The U.S. commitment to the INS &EC is tied to a commitment by Ukraine to close Chornobyl. The U.S. would not be a legal partner in managing the INS &EC. However, the difficulties presented by the differing views on the purpose of the INS &EC could be mitigated by considering them within the context of a broad-based joint energy study.
V. RUSSIA
. I am pleased that DOE's assistance program with GAN is off to a good start with successful meetings last month in Washington with GAN First Deputy Chairman Alexander Gutsalov.
. NRC looks forward to participating in the Joint Coordinating Committees that will be formed to support the research reactors and fuel cycle facility efforts, as well as the MPC&A working group. I understand that l specific participants for these groups have been identified.
b i
! 4 !
j . I understand that Gutsalov suggested that a report on the DOE /GAN i agreements be made by you and GAN Chairman Vishnevsky to the Gore- l l
Chernomyrdin Comission (GCC) meeting scheduled for January, and that :
1 Gutsalov suggested establishing a specific relationship under the GCC l between you and Vishnevsky, similar to the existing relationship you !
have with Mikhailov. Has DOE decided how to respond to these requests?
! . I also understand that Gutsalov requested that DOE assist GAN in i
developing an emergency response capability in the fuel cycle area, in ;
part because MINATOM has indicated that it will not allow GAN to participate in their activities in this area. I understand that you I J
l discussed-this with Vishnevsky last year and support this request. i also support this request, as I believe that DOE's undertaking such an
. effort would be of great benefit to GAN. l VI. SOUTH AFRICA ;
. I recall our earlier discussion about the possibility of adding nuclear
- topics to the Gore-Mbeki Comission agenda once the U.S.-South African l Agreement for. Cooperation has been signed. Tnis has now occurred.
. I am interested in strengthening the South African nuclear regulatory .
organization, as well as facilitating South African participation in the DOE Annealing Demonstration Programs (ADP), which their regulators have ,
requested. '
- I would like to enlist your support for the initiative in NRC's November !
13, 1995 letter to the Energy Comittee Coordinator of the Gore-Mbeki Comission, to be raised at the Comission meeting in South Africa
, starting December 4. This initiative proposes increased regulatory cooperation with NRC, and determining if the South African regulators or
- - utility is interested in joining the ADP, which I understand calls for a l financial contribution.
VII. If0IA
. Could DOE provide an update on the upcoming visit to the U.S. by Dr.
4 Chidambaram, Chairman of the Department of Atomic Energy, including (1) the status of the rewritten joint statement, and (2) the issues paper on
- alternatives for the Westinghouse 10 CFR Part 810 export application?
. NRC believes that it is important that in-service inspection be performed on the Tarapur reactors. NRC also believes that-work with the Indians in the area of probabilistic risk assessment would be useful.
v 1
! . NRC appreciates DOE's support of the NRC projects with the Indian Atomic
- Energy Regulatory Board. NRC understands that the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi will soon meet with the Indian Finance Ministry to seek Indian l
approval of the three projects in (1) design issues (backfit and modifications), (2) development of symptom-based emergency procedures, and (3) fire safety.
I i
, , , _ , _ _ - ~ . - - , - . - , , .. -- , - = _ _ . . -_
, 1 4
5 VIII. NORTH KOREA
. I'd like to reaffirm that NRC is interested in working closely with DOS and other Executive Branch agencies on the safety aspects of the KE00 project. The NRC has a keen interest in the project from a reactor safety perspective.
. As we noted in meetings with the DPRK in February, in our experience regulating commercial nuclear power plants in the U.S. and cooperating with the international community on nuclear safety issues, we have found that the earliest and fullest possible involvement of the plant operator and regulator in a country just entering the nuclear power arena is crucial to its optimal development and implementation of a sound safety culture.
. Such a culture, including adequate resources, a cadre of trained personnel, and good governmental oversight is one of the surest guarantees that their nuclear program will be competently operated and responsibly maintained. This is a responsibility that is explicit in the international Convention on Nuclear Safety which we hope the DPRK will sign.
. An Executive Branch briefing on DPRK issues has been scheduled for the Commission on December 11. Perhaps beginning with that briefing, and through NRC-Executive Branch staff meetings which should be scheduled periodically, we can begin a dialogue regarding the safety aspects of the KEDO project.
IX. l.ATIN AMERICA i
. Can you update me on the status of the second Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy?
. NRC is interested in providing support for the conference, such as participating in planning working groups and in speaking on the issue of nuclear safety.
l 1
X. NUCLEAR WA5TE PROGRAM
. Can DOE share some insight on how the recent budget cuts will affect the waste repository program?
XI. EXTERNAL REGULATION OF DOE FACILITIES
. NRC is prepared to assume responsibility provided (1) adequate resources are provided above that currently budgeted, and (2) adequate time for transition is included.
--m 6fO j
$ 'o,, UNrrED STATES f ,
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
{o, ,i WASHINGTON, D.C. 20855 j
%o * * * *
- r December 20, 1995 CHAIRMAN DISTRIBUTION: l l
Commissioner Rogers SECY l OGC EDO i OIP .-
SEC CHAIRMAN JACKSON'S TRIP REPORT ON VISIT TO FRANCE,
SUBJECT:
AUSTRIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, AND UKRAINE JW
! e)
___ _ _ -_____.m... -_ . - - - . . _ _ . . _ _ _ _ . . _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ . . . _ _
/ UNITED STATES '_'- -
W
'f p -g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D C. 2000H001 e ,
kg [ December 28, 1995
..... 1 CHAIRMAN 1
l 1
Dr. Kyo-Sun Lee Executive Vice Chairman Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc.
Yeoeuido P.O. Box 1021 Seoul 150-610 Republic of Korea
Dear Dr. Lee:
Thank you for your letter of November 28. As you requested, .I have enclosed a brief biographical sketch, and I will be pleased to provide you by February 15, 1996, an abstract of the presentation I plan to make at the April 12 special session of the lith KAIF/KNS Annual Conference. Unfortunately, I will be unable to provide the full text of my speeches before their delivery.
I very much appreciate your new arrangements to host a luncheon for invited speakers and Korean nuclear leaders on April 12 instead of the dinner you were originally planning on April 11.
I am pleased to accept your invitation to participate and look forward to it. I also look forward to receiving further information on the conference.
Sincerely, b
Enclosure:
Curriculum Vitae i 7 D \
[l 0
% I-\ ([ '
. ea D J vrp 1
[ ~"% UNITED STATES f W l. 1 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs E',Z
%. . + #/# Washington, D.C. 20555 DR. SHIRLEY 1004 JACKSON The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman of the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is a theoretical physicist. She was sworn in as a Commissioner on May 2, 1995 and assumed the Chairmanship two months later, on July 1. Prior to joining the l NRC, she had extensive experience as a university professor, l research scientist, consultant and corporate director. l From 1991 to 1995, Dr. Jackson was a professor of Physics at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J., serving concurrently as a consultant in semiconductor theory to AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J.
A native of Washington, D.C., she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1964, as class valedictorian. Matriculating at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1968 and a Ph.D. in the field of theoretical elementary particle physics in 1973.
For 15 years, from 1976 until 1991 when she joined the faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers, Dr. Jackson conducted research at AT&T Bell Laboratories in such fields as: charge density waves in layered compounds, polaronic aspects of electrons on the surface of liquid helium films, the channeling of heavy ions in solids, far infrared conductivity of electron-hole plasmas, magnetic polarons in diluted magnetic semiconductors, and the electronic and optical properties of strained layer semiconductor superlattices.
More recent work at AT&T Bell Laboratories, as a consultant, has focused on a class of materials holding promise for use in optical communications and optical computing.
She is a Fellow both of the American Physical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In the fall of 1993, she received the Thomas Alva Edison Science Award from the Governor of New Jersey. She also holds honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Bloomfield College and Fairleigh Dickinson University, both in New Jersey.
Dr. Jackson is a Life Member of the Board of Trustees of M.I.T. She has served on the board of directors of Public Service Enterprise Group and its subsidiary, Public Service
. - . - - - - . - - - . _. --. -. . . . _ . - . _ = _ _ . . . _ . . _ . - - - _ .- .-_ . . .
O
'(
?
Electric and Gas Co., Sealed Air Corp., CoreStates Financial Corp., CoreStates National Bank and the New Jersey Resources Corp.
She has served also on an advisory panel'to the Department of Energy on the future of its national multipurpose laboratories, on research councils of the National Academy of Sciences and on the Advisory Council of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). In addition, she has served an a number of high level commissions in the state of New Jersey.
Dr. Jackson has achieved a number of firsts in her career.
She was the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate from M.I.T.--in any subject; she was the first African-American to become a Commissioner of the NRC, a Presidential appointment; she was the first woman and the first African-American to be designated Chairman of the Commission, also a Presidential appointment.
Dr. Jackson is married Dr. Morris A. Washington, also a physicist. They have one son, Alan.
October 1995 l
l l
i l
l l i
i l
l l l l
l l
l
,- Nh V. ., \ .
/ UNITED STATES E -, s@ ,
l p t NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. M1 e-o g l I
%,.....[ December 28, 1995 l
cHAinaAAN l
l Dr. Yong-Kyu Lim President '
Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety Taejon, Korea
Dear Dr. Lim:
Thank you for your letter of December 4, 1995 and the tentative itinerary for my visit. I am looking forward to my visit, to the many opportunities that it will bring to learn more about your nuclear program, and to meeting with you in your new headquarters building. I am reviewing your proposed itinerary and I have instructed my Office of International Programs (OIP) to finalize the arrangements for my visit and to coordinate them with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. The NRC contact for my visit is Ms. Donna Chaney, OIP. Her telephone number is (301) 415-2644 and her fax number is (301) 415-2395.
Sincerely, b i i
I l
l 3
A--
1vuiava I ! f i{( { {}
- m W I hi.
/ UNITED STATES
, j' , NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i
, g g WASHINGTON, D.C. 20686 4 001 O t
/ December 13, 1995 CHAIRMAN Jacques Lochard, Director Centre d' Etude sur 1' Evaluation de la Protection Dans le Domaine Nucleaire Route du Panorama BP 48 F-92263 Fontenay-aux-roses Cedex France
Dear Mr. Lochard:
4 I am responding to your letter of October 9,1995, in which you expressed concern about the discontinuation of funding for an annual report proposed by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) entitled " Radioactive Materials Released from Nuclear Power Plants." As you may know, BNL has been collecting data on dose reduction technologies for about 10 years. When this work began, occupational doses in this country were over 800 mrem /yr per person; in 1994, the average occupational dose was less than 200 mrem /yr. These data have led us to believe that much of the potential dose savings at nuclear power plants has been achieved and that the BNL ALARA Center has generally fulfilled its original purpose. I believe it is now appropriate for the NRC to focus its limited resources on other areas that have a greater need for NRC involvement.
At this time, funding for the BNL ALARA center is budgeted for 100 percent in fiscal year 1996 and 50 percent in fiscal year 1997. By the time NRC funding for the ALARA Center is discontinued, we hope the nuclear power industry will have provided support to BNL or assumed the function of collection and dissemination of these data.
In the meantime, you may want to consider a potential alternative data source, Nuclear Energy Agency Information System on Occupational Exposure Technical Support Center at the University of Illinois in the United States. The purpose of the Illinois TSC, also known as the North American Regional Technical Center (NARTC), is to promote the exchange of occupational exposure data and ALARA information and experience within the world's nuclear power industry. This is very similar to the purpose of the BNL ALARA Center.
Currently, the TSC/NARTC is making excellent progress toward achieving 100 percent participation by U.S. nuclear power plant operators. The coordinator of the NARTC is Dr. David Miller, Adjunct Professor, University of Illinois, Department of Nuclear Engineering, 211 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, 103 S.
Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801-2984, USA. I believe that Dr. Miller may be able to help you find the data you need. His telephone number is (217) 935-8881, Ext. 3880.
4 Sincerely, Shirley Ann Jackson cc: David W. Miller
}W5 \ f'